Editing General Services Administration (section)

====Western Regions Training Conference controversy====
In 2012, U.S. representative [[John Mica]], chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, called for a congressional investigation into the misuse of federal money by GSA.<ref name=Brockell2010>{{cite web |url=http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=447&sid=2814682 |title=Former GSA head faults regional commissioners in spending scandal |first=Gillian |last=Brockell |publisher=FederalNewsRadio.com |date=2012-04-04 |access-date=2012-06-12 |archive-date=2013-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117104436/http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=447&sid=2814682 |url-status=live }}</ref> Lawmakers accused GSA of "lavish spending" following the 2010 Western Regions Training Conference at the [[M Resort]] in [[Las Vegas]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46931908#.T3uIvNWiYoo | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120412200530/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46931908 | archive-date = 12 April 2012 | title = GSA head resigns amid reports of lavish spending | first = Philip | last = Elliott | agency = Associated Press | location = Washington DC | url-status = dead | work = MSNBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 7, 2010 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/agency-under-fire-for-vegas-conference-had-ballooning-budgets-in-recent-years/ |title=Agency under fire for Vegas conference had ballooning budgets in recent years |publisher=[[Fox News]] |first=Judson |last=Berger |access-date=2012-06-12 |archive-date=2012-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605232604/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/04/agency-under-fire-for-vegas-conference-recorded-ballooning-budgets-in-recent/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Lisa |last1=Rein |first2=Timothy R. |last2=Smith |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gsa-conference-went-over-the-top/2012/04/04/gIQAi23suS_story.html |title=GSA conference went 'over the top' |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2011-06-28 |access-date=2012-06-12 |archive-date=2012-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506110634/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gsa-conference-went-over-the-top/2012/04/04/gIQAi23suS_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

GSA spent $823,000 in taxpayer money toward the October 2010 convention, including $100,405.37 spent on employee travel costs for a total of eight pre-planning meetings, scouting trips, and a "dry run". The report also found excessive spending for event planners, gifts for participants, and lavish meals.<ref name="Elliott">{{cite web |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/government/gsa-head-resigns-amid-reports-lavish-spending-las-vegas-conference |title=GSA head resigns amid reports of lavish spending at Las Vegas conference |author=Elliott, Phillip |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=April 2, 2012 |access-date=March 18, 2017 |archive-date=March 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319112253/http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/government/gsa-head-resigns-amid-reports-lavish-spending-las-vegas-conference |url-status=live }}</ref>

The conference had been the most recent in a series of similar lavish conferences organized by regions of GSA's Public Buildings Service (PBS, not to be confused with the public broadcaster [[PBS|of the same name]]). In May 2010 GSA treated 120 interns to a five-day conference at a [[Palm Springs, California]], resort. An additional investigation led by Inspector General Brian D. Miller found 115 missing [[Apple iPods]] meant for an employee rewards program.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

GSA administrator [[Martha N. Johnson]] resigned in the wake of the controversy, after firing Public Buildings Service head Robert Peck and senior advisor Stephen Leeds. Four regional commissioners of the Service, who had been responsible for planning the conference, were placed on administrative leave.<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.gsaig.gov/?LinkServID=908FFF8C-B323-14AD-270C38936310AEBD&showMeta=0 | title = Management Deficiency Report: General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service, 2010 WESTERN REGIONS CONFERENCE | date = 2 April 2012 | publisher = Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General, U.S. General Services Administration | access-date = 20 July 2012 | archive-date = 17 August 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120817095624/http://www.gsaig.gov/?LinkServID=908FFF8C-B323-14AD-270C38936310AEBD&showMeta=0 | url-status = live }}</ref>